LEADER chief warns new plan will create more losers than winners

There will be more losers than winners in the new LEADER rural development programme, warned IRD Duhallow CEO Maura Walsh, as the new funding scheme got under way.

“Despite the huge cut to our funding, 79%, we will give it our best shot and make as much of it for communities and businesses as we can.

“My fear is that the scarcity of funding coupled with the new competitive aspect of the fund, which has replaced the developmental nature of previous programmes, will lead to communities being pitched against each other, where winner takes all.”